Use of the popular lip balm EOS (Evolution of Smooth) has been associated with several painful side effects. The EOS lip balm line is marketed as “…95% organic, 100% natural, and paraben and petrolatum free. Packed with antioxidant-rich vitamin E, soothing shea butter and jojoba oil, eos keeps your lips moist, soft and sensationally smooth.”

Product image courtesy of Foxers.com
Product image courtesy of Foxers.com

Adverse Side Effects Linked to EOS Lip Balm

While marketing for EOS lip balm has touted the smooth texture of the product, consumer experiences with EOS have not been smooth. A number of negative side effects have been linked to EOS lip balm to-date.
Use of EOS lip balm has caused:

  • Mild to severe rashes
  • Dryness
  • Cracking
  • Bleeding
  • Blisters
  • Boils
  • Loss of pigmentation
Examples of EOS reactions
Examples of EOS reactions

These EOS side effects last from a few days to a few months. Some consumers may even be facing permanent damage as a result of using EOS lip balm. Thousands, potentially hundreds of thousands, of consumers have experienced injury.

EOS Lip Balm Marketing

EOS lip balm is aggressively marketed through the use of several celebrity “brand ambassadors,” including Kim Kardashian, Miley Cyrus, Brittney Spears, Hillary Duff and others. These “brand ambassadors” flood social media with pictures and testimonials in favor of the product.

The EOS website has a page titled “EOS BUZZ-CELEBRITY FANS” on which consumers can find hundreds of celebrity endorsements. The company also sponsors content touting EOS lip balm as a good travel companion and a solution for many health and hygiene issues. This aggressive marketing campaign leads consumers to believe that daily, constant EOS lip balm use is a must for those who want health, diet and appearance improvements.

Social media, particularly Facebook, is now being flooded with tales (and pictures) of EOS lip balm users with horrible blisters, cracked lips and rashes over the lower portion of their faces. There have been reports of mold growing in the EOS lip balm spherical containers.

How EOS Lip Balm Could Be Injuring Consumers

Experts have yet to agree on one specific causal factor behind the widespread EOS lip balm side effects. One commonly held theory is that the painful side EOS lip balm side effects are the result of an allergic reaction to some of the product’s ingredients. Another is that bacteria may the cause. EOS does not use traditional cosmetic preservatives (parabens), which would protect against microbial growth. The lack of chemical preservatives in EOS lip balm is thought to be the reason the product often grows mold.

Ingredients that may be contributing to the EOS lip balm side effects are:

  • Tocopherols (TCP), an organic chemical compound with vitamin E-like activity. Bleeding is a common serious side effect.
  • Sodium hyaluronate is chemically similar to the fluid cushioning your joints. As an injectable, it’s used as a “lip puffer” and can cause swelling and inflammation.
  • Ascorbyl palmitate is a fat-soluble form of Vitamin C. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel advises limited use as ascorbyl palmitate can cause cell death when exposed to UV radiation (sunlight).
More examples of EOS reactions
More examples of EOS reactions

EOS Lip Balm Lawsuits and Settlements

Based on these painful side effects, some consumers have file suit against the manufacturers of EOS lip balm. We anticipate this will continue as more injured consumers come forward. The manufacturer of any consumer product is legally obligated to provide clear warnings of possible complications associated with the use of its products, as well as inform consumers of the likelihood of these complications.

Failure to provide these warnings or misleading consumers is criminal. When such situations occur, manufacturers must be held responsible for their actions or lack thereof. If you or someone you know has used and been injured by EOS lip balm, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

According to fashion industry publication Refinery29, the case has been settled. However, details of the settlement have not yet been disclosed. EOS has advised customers that it will be changing its product labels to more accurately reflect their ingredients and the potential for allergic reactions.

Until further details of the settlement are released, it is impossible to determine the benefit to those injured by EOS lip balm.

More Information on EOS Lip Balm and EOS Lip Balm Lawsuits and Settlements

If you have a question about EOS lip balm that isn’t answered here, feel free to give my office a call at (855) 452 – 5529 or e-mail me at justinian@dangerousdrugs.us.